Container for a vial or ampoule

Abstract

A portable container ( 10 ) suitable for housing and protecting vials ( Y ) ampoules and other small vessels containing pharmaceutical or veterinary preparations such as vaccines, which are sensitive to changes in temperature or to relatively high temperature, is provided. The container ( 10 ) comprises a layered wall ( 11 ) defining a centrally located cavity ( 13 ) for receiving the vial ( Y ). The wall ( 11 ) includes an outer thermally insulating layer ( 12 ) surrounding a substance ( 14 ) for providing a passive cold source to the cavity ( 13 ) and two spaced inner layers ( 16 and 18 ) of a relatively hard plastics material providing an annular chamber wherein the substance ( 14 ) is received.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A portable container for a vial, the container having a wall defining a centrally located cavity for receiving the vial, the wall having a first thermally insulating outer layer; and second and third spaced apart layers of a relatively hard plastics material surrounded by the first layer, the second and third layers defining a cavity between them for a substance for providing a passive cold source to the cavity; and the wall including a fourth inner layer of insulating foam which is surrounded by the other layers, for protecting the vial from a sudden excessive drop in temperature due to the proximity of the vial to the passive cold source. 
     
     
       2. A container according to  claim 1  wherein the first to fourth layers are in the form of concentrically disposed, cylindrical, blind ended tubes. 
     
     
       3. A container according to  claim 2  wherein the substance for providing a passive cold source forms an annular layer disposed between the second and third layers. 
     
     
       4. A container according to  claim 1  which includes a downwardly directed annular flange member providing on the open top of the container, the flange member connecting to the first layer of the container by a friction fit. 
     
     
       5. A container according to  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the annular flange member defines an annular extending groove formation and wherein an outer surface of the second layer defines a circumferentially extending ridge formation for mating with the groove formation.